Ventilated sanderplane



8- 1934- H. L. MYERS 1 969318 VENTILATED SANDBRPLANE Filed July 27, 19333 Sheets-Shet I {j .Jzryl er 1 a v Buggy I -'7, 1934. H. L, MYERS1,969,318

VENTILATED SANDERPLANE Filed July 27, 1933 1 11191.1 I 1 9III/11111220,, I,

1934- H. L. MYERS 1,969,318

VENTILATED SANDERPLANE Filed July 27, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 InventorBarry .5. ){yers flllorney Patented Aug. 7, 1934 PATENT OFFICE 1,969,318VENTILATED SANDERPLANE Barry L. Myers,

Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The American Floor Surfacing Machine Company,

Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application July 2'1, 1933, SerialNo. 682,502

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to that category of portable hand sandingand abrading machines now currently utilized for finishing surfaces oftables, desks, doors, floors, walls and the like, which style and typeof machine is now generally referred to in the trade and industry as abench-type sanderplane.

Lightweight high-speed sanderplanes of the variety alluded to haveacquired a definite status in the art and trade asdistinguished fromheavy and cumbersome floor finishing machines such as are utilized forheavy duty work and more laborious tasks.

Briefly stated, the inventive conception comprehends the provision of alongitudinally elongated chassis frame equipped with a horizontallydisposed motor and casing assembly, together with endless belt abradingmeans and a suitable dust collecting system.

The majority of sanderplanes of this species have the dustcollectingduct or intake nozzle in close proximity to the rear belt driving rollerand are generally equipped in this same region with suitable supportingmeans such as a horizontally disposed roller or the like calculated toaid in the handling and manipulating of the machine on the bench.

In perfecting the principle and preferred embodiment of the invention, Ihave discovered that the rear supporting means can be entirely dispensedwith in order to provide a more practical type machine whose features ofaccommodation and adaptation transcend those of similar patented andmarketed bench sanding machines and sanderplanes.

As implied by the foregoing assertions, one feature of the improvedsanderplane is predicated upon an arrangement which is mechanicallycorrect, scientifically designed, systematically balanced, andcharacterized by special co-ordination and selection of featuresconducive to safe and sensitive operation wherein the aforesaid rearsupporting means is eliminated in order to prevent the rear ,end portionof the machine from tipping back and gouging into the surface beingabraded.

I As an innovation, I have embodied in this improved machine, a specialco-ordinated air circulating and suction system whose features have beeningeniously arranged and centralized to render them aptly fitted to thetask of providing means for picking up and bagging the dust andsimultaneously aerating and cooling the motor through theinstrumentality of. a dependable ventilating fan assembly.

springs so arranged rigidly attached As will be evident as thedescription proceeds, additional novelty is thought toreside in theadoption and special adaptation of an oscillatory hingedly attachedbacking plate or shoe for the working flight of the belt, wherein said80 shoe is in the form of a substantially rigid, that is, flexureresisting plate, hingedly mounted at a point intermediate itslongitudinal dimension and equipped with a plurality of with respect tothe pivotal B5 mounting as to allow the entire superstructure, that is,the frame and casing, to be tilted back and forth while the shoe restssubstantially fiat on the work. Under this arrangement, the shoeaccommodates the frame and under certain conditions the frameaccommodates the shoe depending upon the job at hand.

Stated more explicitly, an additional feature and advantage flows fromthe use of spaced parallel vertically superposed plates one being to theframe and constituting an adapter plate and the lower plate hingedlyattached to said adapter plate intermediate its ends with springsinterposed between said plates to provide a novel resilient shoearrangement for maintaining requisite resilient pressure on the lowerflight of the belt. Then too, the pivotally mounted springpressed shoeis co-ordinated to co-operate with the spring-pressed idling rollerassociated with the frontal portion of the belt in an unusual wayso-that the two features, that is the shoe and the spring-pressedcarrier for the front roller co-act to promote more efficient andsatisfactory results.

Other features and advantages which render the machine satisfactorilymachineable and which adapt it for unqualified endorsement by the thradewill become more readily apparent from the following description anddrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of 'a sanderplane of the ventilatedtype constructed in ac,- cordance with the principles of the presentinventive conception.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view partly in elevation,disclosing the complete ensemble and allocation of parts.

Figures 3 and 4 are exaggerated transverse or cross sectional viewstaken approximately on the planes of the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively,of Figure '1.

Figure 5 is a marginal edge elevational viewof the duplex fan unit.

Figure 6 is a fragngentary sectional view structure disclosing'thesuperposed adapted plate and shoe ensemble.

As before indicated, the improved machine comprises a suitable chassisor frame denoted by the numeral 7. Suitably attached to and supported onthis frame is the horizontally disposed, longitudinally elongated powerunit and its accessories denoted by the numeral 8. The principal part ofthis unit 8 may be referred to as a casing and this embodies severaldistinct parts, namely a housing 9 for the motor 10, a detachable cap11, and a separable closure for the rear end of the motor housing.

This closure is constructed to provide an enclosure 12 for the drivenshaft and power transmitting gearing. The driven shaft 13 is supportedin appropriate bearings and equipped with a bevelled gear 14 operablethrough the instrumentality of a pinion 15' on the rear end of the motorshaft 16. The motor shaft is journalled for rotation in appropriatebearings 17 and 18 respectively. This bevel gear drive constitutes apositive and dependable power supply means in a machine of this style ascontrasted with the customary worm gear drive ordinarily employed.

Referring now to the aforementioned cap 11, it will be observed thatthis is provided with a suitable stabilizing hand knob 19 and anarrangement of air inlet holes 20 for ventilating and cooling the motor10.

The closure unit at the rear of the casing is formulated with a dustintake duct 21 whose curved pendent portion is properly located withrespect to the work surface to introduce the dust.

This dust intake duct 21 communicates at its inner end with acentralized fan chamber 22 which chamber is located intermediate theends of the casing 8 and fashioned into two compartments to accommodatea duplex or double-acting fan 23. The fan is mounted on the centralportion of the motor shaft 16, that is, between the motor and thegearing. Incidentally, the numeral 24 designates a discharge neckcommunicating with the chamber 22 and adapted to accommodate the dustcollection bag 25.

The fan 23, as detailed in Figure 5, comprises a. disc 26 on one, sideof which are vanes or blades 27 tied together by an annulus or web 28.These vanes form a suction fan for drawing in the dust through the duct21 into the chamber 22 and blowing it out into the bag byway of theattaching neck 24. On the other side of the disc 26 are somewhat smallervanes or blades 29 also interconnected through the instrumentality of anannular web 30. These vanes constitute a motor cooling fan to draw theair in through the air inlets 20 in the cap against the motor 10 anddischarge the air into the surrounding compartment 31 which is providedas shown in Figure 4 with air discharge ports 20a.

Particular stress and importance is attached to this duplex centralizedfan assembly for simultaneously ventilating the motor 10 by way of theair inlets 20 and outlets 20a and collecting and bagging the work dustby way of the duct 21 and dust compartment of the fan chamber 22. Thefan is common to both the circulatory motor cooling air anddust-collecting system.

Special observance should be accorded the double-acting fan and itsaccommodation chamber assembly. For example, it will be noticed thatthis chamber 22 is actually divided by the disc 26 of the fan into twodistinct compartments, the compartment to the right in Figure 2 being incommunication with the dust intake duct 21, and the compartment to theleft being in open communication with the air outlets 20a as well as theair inlets 20.

The disc portion of the fan has a running fit in the central portion ofthe chamber so that the two compartments are actually separated fromeach other in the sense that they do not communicate. Consequently, thedust which is drawn in is prevented from getting into the motor space ofthe casing.

Attention is now invited to the surface abrading means and itsaccessories which, as arranged, possess a definite compensatingrelationship tothe centralized fan arrangement as regards systematicbalance and equilibrium designed to render the machine easily andconveniently manipulatable.

.The means comprises an endless abrading belt '32 trained overlongitudinally spaced front and rear rollers 33 and 34 respectively. Thefront roller is an and the rear roller is operatively connected with theaforesaid gearing to drivethe belt. This general 'roller and beltarrangement is old in the art. l

It will'be observed, however, that the front roller is supported on aspring-pressed beltidling roller as is customary 40 to a rectangularadapter plate 391; rigidly carried by the cylinder 37 as shown better inFigure 8. Retention and cushioning springs 41 are connected with the twoplates 39 and 39a to and located in pairs on opposite sides of thepivotal connections 40 in alinement with said pivotal connections. Thisprovides a sort of an oscillating belt presser shoe or platen. Such anarrangement is regarded as desirable in view "of the fact that in thepresent machine, as be-- fore stated, there is no roller or leg or othersupporting means at the rear end of the machine as is generally utilizedin sanderplanes of this special type.

This type machine is can be set flat on the perfectly balanced and workand operated exactly the same as a hand plane. By elimination of thesupporting means at the rear of the machine, one is permitted to drawthe machine back over" the edge of the surface, such as a table. withoutdanger -of the machine rocking back when the supporting cluded in thismachine) is hanging over the edge of the surface being treated andpermitmeans (not inis notperfectly balanced as in to provide. ;a snDPO.ti-I.

emwh ne to rntevent.- the sanding shoe 39 from gouging-into-the-sur:

- r vantages;theaexnlicit constm t n, As an added feature,. I providea-suitable;

' naeaaia ting the sanding belt ,to; chamfer the-sharp edge, while thesupporting means (not shown). isout of contact with the surface featureis very important. and; the machine:

this case;- ?v

absolutely necessary means at the rear of face being treated.-

hand-grip 42 attachable to the rear part; 10f; the casing and having. .abrace 43 secured to the depending portion of the dust intake duct 21. Itis thought that continuity of operation and purpose is found in theprovision of a sanderplane of .this type characterized by the frame 7provided with the centrally pivoted oscillatory backing plate or shoe 39and equalizing and compensating spring means 41 affording the desiredresilient characteristics for said shoe; taken in conjunction with thespringpressed carrier. unit co-ordinated with the belt 32 andautomatically operable in conmachines rangement junction with thespring-pressed shoe 39 as the operator moves the plane back and forthexerting pressure either forwardly downward or rearwardly downward ateither end, as conditions require. In other words, the springpressedfeature 35, though it is old in similar in the art, combines with thefeatures 39, 40 and 41, in adding to the practicability of thesefeatures by rendering the machine more easily manipulatable forsensitive bench work.

Then too, by centralizing the duplex fan arrangement, a moresatisfactory balance and equilibrium is attained to permit thissensitive manipulation of the plane to be accomplished. In other words,by omitting the customarily used rear supporting means (not shown) andcentralizing the fan and dust bag arrangement, stress and strain isdistributed and equalized and the entire weight of the machine uniformlybalanced to promote more efficient and dependable usage. Particularly doI wish to emphasize the duplex 'fan arrangement which is common to boththemotor aerating and dust collecting means. Novelty is thereforethought to reside in the provision of an appropriate frame havingsuitable surfacing means and horizontally elongated casto accommodatethe motor shaft wherein said motor shaft is provided with a duplexcentrally arranged fan that is located between the motor and gearing andwherein the motor cooling air and dust collecting suction is deliveredto the center of the machine and exhausted through the centralizedoutlet 24 and ports 20a respectively.

In conclusion, it will be noted that the machine definitelycharacterized by two salient improvements. First, the double-compartmentfan chamber and the duplex fan located therein and mounted on thecentral portion of the motor shaft and the co-ordinated bag attachingneck disposes this part of the invention'at the center of the casingavoiding overhanging rear accessories and weight at the rear portion ofthe machine and distributing the strain and weight to provide for moreeffective balance and handling. -.;,Second1y, the frame, casing, motor,and other parts, are practically supported solely by the underfiight ofthe belt, through the instrumentality of said belt bearing against theoscillatory spring-retained backing plate or shoe, thisarbeingco-ordinated with the springbeingtreated:;

ing provided with a longitudinally spaced bearing;

pressed compsnfiati gmeans for the front roller, and thereforeobviatingz the nece y f P d-.

ing special-rear-supporting rollers or equivalent devicesatjtheinner-oryi'ear endof the machine.

.-A careful. consideration of. the foregoing description; in--.coniunction with the illustrative drawings will enable the reader toobtain a clear understanding of-the purpose, features and adandtheinventi0n;.;-as hereinafter planned.

It is to be understoodthat ;minor changes in hapacsseirelative.nroportionsgand materials may be resorted to in practicewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of theinvention as now claimed. I

I claim:

1. A portable hand abrading machine of the type described including aframe, spaced apart rollers carried by the frame and extendingtransversely thereof, an abrading belt movable over the rollers, theframe above said belt embodying a longitudinally elongated casingextending lengthwise of the belt, said casing embodying longitudinallyspaced bearings, being formed at its forward end with a motorcompartment having air inlets, formed atits rear end with a gearcompartment, and formed at its central portion with a suction fanchamber, the rear' portion of the casing being further formed with adust intake duct leading upwardly'and forwardly into the central fanchamber, a motor located in the motor compartment and embodying a shaftjournalled for rotation in said bearings, the rear end of the shaftbeing located in the gear housing, and a fan attached to the centralportion of the shaft and located in said suction chamber.

2. A portable hand abrading machine of the type described including aframe, spaced apart rollers carried by the frame, and extendingtransversely thereof, an abrading belt movable over the rollers, theframe above said belt embodying a longitudinally elongated casingextending lengthwise of the belt, said casing embodying longitudinallyspaced bearings, being former at its forward end with a motor compartment having air inlets, formed at its rear end with a gearcompartment, and formed at its central portion with a suction fanchamber, the rear portion of the casing being further formed with a dustintake duct leading upwardly and forwardly into the central fan chamber,a motor located in the motor compartment and embody ing a shaftjournalled for rotation in said bearings, the rear end of the shaftbeing located in the gear housing, and a fan attached to the centralportion of the shaft and located insaid suction chamber, said fan beingof a'duplex type and including a central disc dividing said suctionchamber into individual compartments, one compartment being incommunication with the dust intake duct, the other compartment being incommunication with the air inlets and having its wall formd withair-outlets.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a frame, front and rearlongitudinally spaced abrading belt rollers-mounted for rotation on saidframe, an endless abrading belt trained over said rollers,alongitudinally' elongated horizontally disposed casing supported onsaid frame and provided at one end with an apertured air inlet cap andat its opposite end with a closure embodying a gear housing and a dustintake duct, the entrance portion of said duct being located withinclose proximity of the rear roller and adjacent portion of the belt,said casing being provided with longitudinally spaced bearings, thecentral portion of the casing being formed with air outlet openings, adust bag attaching neck and a duplex fan chamber coordinated therewith,a motor located in said casing and having a shaft journalled forrotation in said bearings, bevel gearing located in said gear housing,said motor shaft being pro vided with a pinion co-operating with saidgearing, a double-acting fan attached to and rotatable with the centralportion of said motor shaft and located in said fan chamber, said fanbeing provided on opposite sides with vanes, the vanes on one sideserving to suck dust into the dust intake duct and the vanes on theopposite side serving to draw cooling air in through the apertures ofsaid cap for cooling said motor.

4. A sanderplane of the class described comprising a longitudinallyelongated frame, front and rear transversely arranged belt rollersmounted for rotation at opposite ends of said frame, an endless abradingbelt trained over said rollers, a presser shoe comprising a backingplate, said backing plate being pivotally attached to the,frame atpoints intermediate its ends, the plate being longitudinally elongatedand in contact with the.inner surface of the lower flight of the belt,spring cushioning means associated with the end portions of the plate onopposite sides of the pivotal connection, said plate forming the solesupporting means for the frame on the work, a motor casing embodied insaid frame and including a motor operatively connected with one of theaforesaid rollers, said motor casing including a centralized fan chamberarranged directly above the pivotal mounting of said shoe, said motorincluding a shaft extending through said fan compartment, and a fan onsaid shaft located in the compartment.

5. In a structure of the class described, a frame having a base portionincluding a hori zontal longitudinally extending cylinder, a coil springin said cylinder, a roller carrier unit including a stem slidable insaid cylinder and cooperating with said spring, a transversely disposedroller mounted for rotation on said unit,

a fixedly mounted operating roller mounted on the frame and spacedlongitudinally from said first-named roller, said cylinder beingprovided with a horizontal adapter plate formed integral therewith, abacking plate hingedly attached between its ends to said adapter plate,a plurality of springs interposed between said plates, and an endlessabrading belt trained over said rollers and backing plate.

6. A sanderplane of the class described comprising a self-containedmotor-equipped frame, a motor driven roller on the rear portion of saidframe, a quick-detachable spring-pressed carrier unit mounted on thefrontal portion of the frame and including an idling roller, saidrollers being spaced longitudinally on said frame, an endless abradingbelt trained over said rollers, a flexible backing plate engageable withthe inner surfaceof the lower flight of the belt, means rockablyconnecting the intermediate portion of the plate with said frame, andfront and rear sets of coil springs located on opposite sides of therockable connection and interposed between the corner portions of theplate and adjacent superposed portions of said frame, saidspringsservingto balance the plates, render it self-adjusting and to coordinate itsand having its lower flexible properties with the automatic compensatingaction of the spring-pressed unit and front roller.

7. A portable bench sanderplane of .the type with a suction-fan chamber,the rear portion of the casing being formed with a dust intake anddelivery duct leading upwardly from the rear end of said belt andforwardly into said fan chamber, a motor located in the motorcompartment and operatively connected with the belt, and a fan locatedin said suction fan chamber and operatively connected with said motor,said fan being of a duplex type and including a central disk having amarginal running fit with respect tov the surrounding peripheral wallportion and dividing the suction chamber into individualnon-communicating compartments, one compartment being in communicationwith the dust intake duct, the other compartment being in communicationwith the air inlets and motor compartment and the wall thereof beingformed with air discharge openings.

8. A portable bench sanderplane of the class described embodying aframe, spaced apart rollers carried by the frame and extendingtransversely of the end portions. thereof, an endless abrading beltmovable over the rollers, the frame above said belt embodying alongitudinally elongated casing extending lengthwise of the frame andbelt, said casing embodying longitudinally spaced bearings, the casingbeing formed at its central portion with a suction fan chamber, the rearportion of the casing being formed with a dust intakeduct leadingupwardly and forwardly from the rear end portion of the belt into saidfan chamber, the casing -being formed at its forward end in advance ofsaid fan chamber with a motor compartment, the rear portion of thecasing being formed with a gear compartment, a motor located in themotor compartment and embodying a shaft journaled for rotation in saidbearings, the rear end of the shaft being located in the gear housing,a, fan attached to the central portion of the shaft and located in saidsuction chamber, said suction chamber being provided at its top with adust discharge neck, and a dust bag connected with said neck.

9. In a structure of the class described, a frame having a base portionincluding an underlying longitudinally elongated cylinder, a coiledspring in said cylinder, a roller carrier unit including a stem slidablein said cylinder and pressing against said spring, a transverselydisposed roller mounted-for rotation on said unit, a fixedly mountedoperating roller mounted on the frame and spaced longitudinally fromsaid roller, a resilient backing plate 'hingedly supportedbetween itsends from said cylinder, a plurality of coil springs interposed betweenthe cylinder and backing plate and located on opposite sides of thehinged connections, and an endless abrading belt trained over saidrollers flight in contact with said backing plate.

10. A portable hand controlled surfacing machine of the type describedincluding a frame,

spaced apart rollers carried by the frame and extending transverselythereof, an abrading belt trained over said rollers, a backing platerockably supported on the frame between said rollers and embodyingautomatic spring control means, the lower flight of said belt inconjunction with said plate constituting the sole supporting means forthe frame, the upper portion of said frame embodying an enclosure oflongitudinally elongated design divided into axially alined independentcompartments, there being a gear compartment at the rear end portion ofthe frame, a motor compartment at the forward end portion and a fancompartment between said gear compartment and motor compartment, saidfan compartment being disposed substantially above the central portionof said backing plate and equipped with means to accommodate a dustcollecting bag, a motor in said motor compartment, gearing in saidgearing compartment, said motor including a shaft extending through saidfan compartment, and a fan on that portion of the shaft located in saidfan compartment.

. 11. A portable hand abrading machineof .the type described embodying aframe, endless belt abrading means carried by the lower portion of saidframe in a position to conveniently contact the work, the frame abovesaid abrading means embodying a horizontally disposed longitudinallyelongated enclosure formed at its forward end with a motor compartmenthaving air inlets, formed at its rear end with a gear compartment, andformed between said compartments and at its central portion with asuction fan chamber, the rear end portion of said enclosure beingfurther formed with a dust intake duct leading upwardly and forwardlyinto the central fan chamber, a motor located in the mo tor compartmentand embodying a rotatably supported shaft, the rear end portion of theshaft being located in the gear compartment type described comprising asupport, an endless abrading belt operating and supporting 'meanstherefor carried by said support, said support having its upper portionprovided with a longitudinally elongated casing extending lengthwisewith respect to the belt, said casing embodying longitudinally spacedbearings, being formed at its forward end with a motor compartmenthaving air inlets, formed at its rear end with a gear compartment, andformed between said motor compartment and gear compartment with acentrally located suction fan chamber, the rear portion of the supportincluding a dust intake duct leading upwardly from the rear end of thebelt and forwardly into communicating relationship with the centralizedfan chamber, a motor located in the motor compartment and embodying ashaft journalled for rotation in said bearings, the rear end of saidshaft being located in said gear compartment, gearing in saidcompartment with which said shaft cooperates, the central portion ofsaid shaft extending through said fan chamber, and a fan attached to thecentral portion of the shaft and located in said chamber, said fan beingof a double acting type and including a central disk whose marginalportion is disposed in running fit relationship with respect to thesurrounding wall portion of the fan chamber to divide said chamber intonon-communicating separate forward and rear portions, the rear portionbeing in communi-

